Type-writing machine.



A. G. F. KUROWSKI.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 21, 1913.

1,172,588. v Patented Feb. 22,1916.

, 3 SHEETSSHEET 3 A. G. F. KUROWSKI.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. G. F. KUROWSKI. 'TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

1,172,538. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- positively prevent backward rotation of the .To all iv/L071), it may concern:

"unir sr'rEs ALFRED .G. F. KUROWSKI, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITERQOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MAoHINE.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Original application filed December 20, 1909, Serial No. 534,070. Divided and this application filed Juli Be it known that I, ALFRED G. F. Ktmows i, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn borough, city of New 'York, in

the county of Kings and Statev of New York, have invented certain new and useful I1nprovements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ribbon mechanism for type'writing machines, and particularly to typewriting machines in which, in addition to the usual inking ribbon, one or more ribbons are interposed between the work-sheets or webs, so that the writing will be impressed on each webs The employment of an inking ribbon or ribbons, which occupy a posltion between the webs, has given rise to difliculties 1n some cases, owing to the fact that when the platen is turned there is a tendency for the webs to pick up the ribbon and carry it along in line-feeding direction, or in the opposite direction if the platen is rotated backwardly.

An object of the present invention is to provide means' for preventing the ribbon from being thus dragged with the webs.

The webs are fed around the platen and over the printing point and an inking ribbon extending along the printing line is positioned between the webs, the ends of the ribbon being wound on spools supported on vertically movable frames at the ends of the platen. The free end of the outer web extends through a guide; located above the printing line, and which is moved out wardly by the line-spam lever to separate the webs and prevent the ribbon from being carriedupwardly when Iilie platen is ggiven a line-space rotation. To movethe ribbon entirely free from the. webs, when it is desired to rotate the platen either backwardly or forwardly by the usual hand Wheels on the ends of the platen axle, a hand lever operates through intermediate mechanism to move said guide forwardly and separate the webs and also to lift the ribbon spool frames, thereby carrying. the ribbon upwardly out of contact with the webs. All liability of the ribbon being carried in either direction by the webs even when the platen is rapidly rotated is thereby avoided. To

Serial No. 780,127.

. platen prior to the actuation of said hand lever to lift the ribbon, a lockingdog engages the line-space wheel and is lifted by the lever to release the platen. Such release occursonly after the ribbon has been lifted free from the webs. The. ribbon spools are rotated to feed the ribbon over the printing point by pinions mounted on the spool carrying spindles and meshing with gears on the platen axle.

p A feature of the present invention is the means for controlling the winding of the ribbons, whichcomprises cams for alterna tively lifting the ribbon spool frames to disconnect the spool driving pinions from their gears. The cams are connected by a frameshiftable in the direction of the platen axle to lift either ribbon spool frame to throw one spool out of gear and to simultaneousl y permit the other ribbon spool frame to drop and bring is spoolinto driving relation to the platen; a

1 This application is a division of my 00- pending application, Serial N 0. 534,070, filed December 20, 1909, Patent No. 1,069,146 dated August 5, 1913. p .7 7

Other features and advantages will here-- inafter appear. 7

In the accompanying drawings, 'Figure l is a perspective view of atypewriter platen and associated mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.. Fig. 2 is a perspectivefview of one of the ribbon spool carrying frames. Fig. 3'-

I Fig. 7 is aview similar to Fig. 5, but show Ling the hand lever throw-n forward to separate the webs and lift the inner ribbon clear of the rear web. ,Fig. 8 is apart: sectional f front elevation view, showingia portion of I I the ribbon mechanism. Fig. 9 is a perspec v tive view of the cams and their, carrying frame forshifting the ribbonspools to reverse the ribbon feed. Fig. 10 is a part sectional plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. I

The rotary platen 1 is mounted on an axle 2 journaled in a platen frame, which may be mounted as usual on a carriage 3. The platen may be rotated either by hand wheels 4, or by line-space mechanism comprising a lever 5 pivoted at 6 (Fig. on

".- the carriage, and having an arm 7 to actuate fed around the platen from any suitable source of supply (not shown) as, for example, rolls mounted on spools located behind the machine. These webs are fed downwardly around the platen and up over the printing line at the front face of the .platen. The outer ribbon 14: extends in front of the outer web 13, and the inner ribbon 15 extends along the printing line between the webs 12, 13. Types 16 are actuated in the usual manner to make impressions through the ribbons 14 and 15 onto the webs 12, 13.

The inner ribbon 15 extends horizontally along the platen at the printing line and --has its ends wound on ribbon spools 17 and 18 mounted to rotate on spindles 19 projecting inwardly from spool carrying frames 20 and 21, located respectively at the left-hand and right-hand ends of the platen frame. Each of the spool carrying frames has a body portion 22, in a vertical plane perpendicular to the platen axle, and a front flange 23 parallel with the platen axle; each of said flawes being provided with a horizontal slot 2+ and an inclined slot 25, said slots forming guides for the ribbon 15. The ribbon extends forwardly from the spool 17, through slots 24 and 25 in the frame 20, thence horizontally along the platen to the slots 25 and 24 in the frame 21 and to the spool18. The

spool spindles'19 also have loosely mounted thereon driving pinions 26, adapted to be brought alternatively into mesh with gears 27 fixed to the platen, whereby either ribbon spool may be rotated to feed the ribbon when the platen is rotated by the line-space mechanism. The spools may be connected to to tate with the pinions 26- by pins 26 on the pinions adapted to enter openings in the spools.

In order that the ribbon spools and their driving pinions may be shifted up and down for reversing the direction of ribbon feed, and'also that the ribbon spools together may be moved upwardly to carry the ribbon 15 out of contact with the webs and thereby avoid any liability of said ribbon being dragged in either direction by the webs when the platen is rotated, the ribbon spool frames 20 and 21 are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the platen frame. To this end 'ach of the frames 20 and 21 is provided means of cams 32 and 32 carried by a frame comprising a horizontal bar 33 and f0rwardly extending arms 34, on the forward ends of which the cams are secured or in tegrall formed. The bar 33 is parallel with the platen and mounted for longitudinal shifting movement in ears 35 extending up ward from the brackets 29. p

The cams 32 and 32 alternatively lift the plates 36 on the guide pins 28 (Figs. 2 and 8) to raise the corresponding driving pinion 26 out of mesh with its gear 27. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, the cam 32 holds the spool frame 20 up, so that the pinion 26 is out of mesh with its gear 27 at the left-hand end of the platen, whereas the right-hand frame 21 is permitted to move down to bring its pinion 26 into driving engagement with its gear. A notch or recess 37 in each cam prevents accidental movement of the cams. shifting the cam frame to the left, the cam 32 releases the plate 36 and allows the frame 20 to be lowered and thus effects a driving connection for the left-hand ribbon spool; while at the same time the right-hand cam 32 is moved to the left and raises the frame 21 to release its pinion 26.

In order to avoid any liability of the ribbon 15 bein dragged upwardly with the webs when the platen is rotated either by the line-space mechanism or by hand wheel 4, I provide means for separating the webs prior to the rotation of the platen. Such means comprises a guide consisting of a separator rod 40 located above the printing line. and extending parallel with the platen. and a knife bar 41 carrying said rod and spaced therefrom to form a narrow slit through which the outer web 13 extends. The guide 40, 41 is movable away from the platen to separate the webs, and for this purpose is connected through links 42 to rock arms 43 on a rock shaft 44 mounted as in brackets 45 on the platen frame, and adapted to be operated by the line-space lever as follows: On the shaft 44 is a cam arm 46 which normally lies in the path of a wrist 47 on the slide 8. so that when the line-space lever is moved to the right to rotate the platen. the wrist 47 moves the cam 46 from the Fig. 5' position down to the Fig. 6 position. thereby rocking the shaft 44 and drawing the guide 40. 41 forwardly to sep arate the webs. r

The knife bar 41in connected to ears 49 on the rear ends of the links 42, said ears along the knife bar a1. It will be understood that the outer web 13 is usually torn off in sections and may consist of a-succession of printed forms, while the inner web 12 remains intact and may be used as a record sheet. V

. The wrist 47 swings the arm 46 downwardly during the initial movement of the slide 8, and before the dog 9 is brought into a position to rotate the line-space wheel, so that the separation of the webs 12, 13 is effected before the platen commences to rotate.

It sometimes desirable to rotate the platen by means of the hand wheels 4, either forwardly or backwardly, and in order to prevent the ribbon 15 from being pulled downwardly by the webs when theplaten is rotated backwardly, means is provided for separating the webs, and in addition lifting the ribbon 15 out of contact with the inner web. Such means comprises a hand lever 51 which operates through an intermediate lever 52 to simultaneously lift both the ribbon spool frames 20 and 21, thereby lifting the ribbon 15, and also operates the rock shaft 44'to separate the webs.

' The hand lever 51 is connected by. a pivot 53 to a bracket M (Fig. 10) whichmay be an extension of the bracket 29, and carries a cam 55 on which rests an arm of the intermediate lever 52, the latter being connected by a pivot 56 to the bracket 54, The intermediate lever 52 has a wrist 57 extending beneath the plate 36, :on the ribbon' spool frame 20, so that when the lever 51 is thrown forwardly from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 7 position, thecam 55 swings the lever 52 on its pivot, and lifts the frame 20 'upwardly, separating the gears 26 and 27.

To simultaneously lift the other spool frame 21, a hollow rock shaft 57 is mounted on the bar 33 and carries a rock arm 58, extending forwardly over a pin 59 on the frame 20, and an arm 60 near the opposite end of the shaft 57" extends beneatha pin 61 on'the spool frame 21. The upward movement of the frame 20, therefore, rocks the shaft 57 and lifts the frame 21.

Springs 63 may be used to assist in return- 1 ,ing the spool frames and associated parts.

The intermediate lever 52 in addition to lifting the frame 20, operates to separate the webs by engaging a wrist 64 on the cam arm 46, and swinging said arm downwardly 3 during the initial movement of the lever 52.

To prevent the platen from being rotated webs, a locking pawl or dog 66 engaging the line-space wheel is placed under the control of the hand lever 51. This pawl is secured to a rock shaft 67 carrying an arm 68, having alug 69 in the path of a wrist pin 70 on the tail of the hand lever 51, so thatas the hand lever is thrown forwardly the pin 70 engages said lug and lifts the locking pawl free from the ratchet wheel. The locking pawl is only released from the wheel when the forward movement of the hand lever is about completed, which insures the ribbon 15 being lifted free of the webs before the platen can be rotated baclrwardly. A guide finger for the ribbon 15 may be placed at one side of the webs, but close thereto to confine the ribbon as closely as practicable to the front of the platen, and at its top the finger may be hooked as at 76, to prevent the escape of the ribbon.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the ing mechanism, and ribbon-displacing mechanism separate from the reversing mechanism and operable to shift both frames together as a single organism to move the ribbon from the printing line, to a position to permit the work-sheetsor webs to be fed over the platen without dragging the ribbon, and to return the ribbon to the printing line.

2. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a platen, of ribbon frames located at opposite ends thereof for a ribbon extending along the printing line, ribbon-feeding mechanism, ribbon-reversing mechanism, and ribbon-displacing mechanism separate fromthe reversing mechanism and operating relatively to one of the frames for disengaging both frames together as a single organism from the feed mechanism to displace and replace the ribbon relatively to the printing line.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon frames located at opposite ends thereof for a ribbon extending along the printing line. and ribbon-displacing mechanism for shifting both frames together as a single organism to shift the ribbon relatively to the printing line into position to permit work-sheets or webs to be fed over theprinting line without dragging the ribbon, and to return the ribbon to the printing line. I

4. In a type'writing machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of ribbon mechanism comprising shifting frames for supporting a ribbon extending along the printing line, springs holding said frames in position, guides for directing the move.

ment of the frames, rocking arms connected to each other and engaging the frames re- 1 opposite ends of the platen to support a ribbon interposed between two sheets, and coinmunicating means between the frames, of an arm on one of the frames, an intermediate lever to engage the arm, and a cam lever for actuating the intermediate lever to shift the frames together as a single organism and thus bodily elevate the ribbon from between the sheets.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, and movable ribbon supports for a ribbon interposed between two sheets, of ribbon-displacing mechanism for bodily elevating the ribbon from between the sheets, and a guide finger to confine the ribbon to the front of theplaten.

7. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a rotatable platen, of means to support a ribbon normally located between the webs at the printing point, means to lock the platen against backward rotation, and a device to disengage the ribbon and the webs relatively to each other and release the platen.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of means to lock the platen against rotation in one direction, and a device to free a ribbon extending over the printing point from the worksheet and release said locking means from the platen.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of means to lock the platen against backward rotation, and a manually operated device to shift a ribbon extending oy'er the printing point outof contact with the work-sheet and then release the lockiiig means from the platen.

10. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a rotatable platen, of aratchet wheel connected thereto. a locking dog engaging said wheel. and a device to more a ribbon extending over the printing point out of contact with the work-sheet and then throw said locking dog out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

11. In a typcwriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of ribbon spool supporting frames, at platen locking device, and manually operated means to shift said frames and then operate said looking device to release the platen.

the platen, a line-space ratchet wheel se-.-

cured to the platen axle, a locking dog engaging said wheel, a manual lever, means operated thereby to shift the ribbon spool frames, and means operated by said lever after it has been moved into position to shift said frames to release said dog from the ratchet wheel.

14. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a rotata le platen, of ribbon spool supporting frames at opposite ends of the platen and supporting the ribbon along the printing line in contact with a web or work-sheet and means to shift said frames simultaneously as a single organism to carry the ribbon out of contactwith the web or work sheet. v

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen and a platen frame, of ribbon spool supporting frames mounted on the platen frame and shiftable vertically, relatively thereto, and a shifting device for simultaneously shifting said supporting frames as a singleorganism, to carry the ribbon out ofcontact with a web or work-sheet on the platen.

16. In atypewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen and a platen frame, of ribbon spool supporting frames. mounted on the platen frame and shiftable vertically relatively thereto,means for simultaneously shifting said supporting frames, as a single organism, to carry the ribbon out of contact with a web or worksheet on the platen, and separate means for selectively shifting the said supporting frames. to vary the direction of ribbon feed.

17.. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of ribbon spool supporting frames, a spool driving pinion-on each frame, gearing to drive each pinion from the platen, and means movable in parallelism with the platen axis for shifting said frames in opposite directions to move either pinion out of driving connection with the platen and simultaneously move the other pinion into driving connection with the platen.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a. rotatable platen, of ribbon spool supporting frames at opposite ends of the platen, driving gears on the platen, ribbon spool spindles on said frames, pm"

ions onsaid spindles adapted to mesh with said gears, and means movable in parallel- 1 ism with the platen axis to shift either of saidframes to move its pinion out. of operative *positionand to simultaneously move the other'frame'to' bring its pinion into op-:

erative position. o 19. (In a typewritlng machine. the comb1- nationfwith a rotatable ;platen,. of ribbon spoolshdjacent the endsof" the platen, spool driving gearing associated with each spool, and ribbon feed reversing means compris ing cams connected for simultaneous move- .mentin parallelism with the platen axis frame whensh'ifted-in the reverse direction.;. 21. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation within rotatable platen and. supportingmeans for a ribbon which is normally and operable to disconnect the gearing for.

eitherlspool and simultaneously connect the gearing for the otherspool.

202 In a tYPBWIllQlHg machine,,the cornbi nation with a rotatable platen, of vertically I shift-able ribbon spool supporting frames at opposite ends of the platen, a frainesh-ift aolelongitudinally? of theplaten, and cams earrie'dby said 'shiftable frame to lift one ribbon s 'oolframe whenshifted in one direction and to lift the "other ribbon spool.

located'between webs extending over the platen at the printing point. of means for shifting said supporting means ribbon fromitsnormalposition and thereby spa'c'e the ribbon and the 'webs relatively to eachjotherx'while retaining the ribbon between the webs and adjacent to the printing I point; said ribbon being retained in said position adiaccnt the printing line \vliilethe platen Pfltfi'tcfl, therebypreventing (the. ribbon fro n being draggedwith the 'webs asthe'avebsare moved overthe platen by the 'rotation of the latter:

"ZQIIna' t-ypewi'iting machine. the combination .with a rotatableplaten, of" a ribbon mechanism includin slidingframes-for support-inga' ribbon which isinterposed between sheets, gnides for directing the movement of tie names; communicating means between the frames. and a lever operating through said communicating meansfo-r raising and lowering the frames-togetheras a single organism to free the ribbon from the sheets while retaining it between the sheets and replace it in operative position between the sheets.

23. In a typewriting machine, thecombi-' nation with a revoliible platen, of a ribbon support movable to shiftan extendedlength of ribbon in its own'plane between webs or work-sheets in a single movement away from printing position to an adjacent position to prevent a cohesive drag from neing imparted to said ribbon in the rotation of the platen, and means to retain said support in said shifted position while the platen is be ing rotated.

24:. In a typewriting machine, the combi to move the H .n'at-ion witha revoluble.v platen, of a ribbon support movable to shift an extended length of ribbon in its own plane between webs or work-sheets in a single movement away from printing position to an adjacent position to prevent a c'o-hesive drag from nemg 1m- .parted'to said ribbon in the rotation of the platen, means to retain said support in said shifted position while the platen is being roitated, and a position-restoringspring for said support. I a y In a typewri'ting machine, the combif nation with a revoluble platen, of movable ribbon supports, and'means for moving said supports as asingle organism to shift an extended length of i -ibbonbetween webs or work-sheets in a single movement away from i printing position and retain-thefribbon inan aCIJacent' position to prevent co-hesive drag from being imparted to said ribbon in the rotation of. the platen.

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination' with a revolnble platen, of movable ribbon supports, means for moving said supports as a single organ sm to shift an extended length of. ribbon between webs or Worksheets in'a single movement away from printing position and retain the ribbon in an adjacent position to prevent eo-hesive drag from being imparted to said ribbon in the rotation of the platen, and position-1e storing springs for said supports.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of movable ribbon supports, operating means therefor,

iliter-communicating means whereby said. .SHDDOItSStIYG actuated in unison as a. single organisin' toin one operation.shiftan extended length of ribbon between webs or work-sheets in a single movement away from printing position, to prevent cohesive drag from being imparted to said fribbon in the rotationot' the platen, and position-restoringsprings for said supports.

28.v In a typewriting machine, the combiplaten; ribbon spools thereon to support aribbon extending between said spools and guided lei'igthwise.of the platen along the printing line, means for shifting said frames vertically and thereby moving the ribbon vertically to aposition ad acent to but uncovering the 'irinting' line in which position nation with a rotatable platen, of ribbonspool supporting frames at the ends of the been moved upwardly to free it from the work-sheet.

29. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, of ribbon supporting means at the'ends of the platen to support a ribbon extending longitudinally of the platen in position to cover the printing line, a lock to prevent backward rotation of the platen while the ribbon is in said position, means to shift said supporting means and carry the ribbon beyond the printing line to prevent the ribbon from being dragged with the work-sheets or webs while the platen is rotated backwardly, and means to automatically release the lock when said ribbon has been moved to said 1ast-named position.

. 30. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, of ribbon-supporting means operating to normally hold a ribbon in position to extend along the printing line between superposed work-' pieces, means separate from the first-named mean to effect a relative shifting between the ribbon and work-pieces, so as to free the ribbon from binding contact with the workpieces-and prevent it from being dragged thereby when the platen is rotated to feed said work-pieces, while constantly maintaining the ribbon and work-pieces in assembled relation. i

, 31. In a typew'riting machine, the combination with a carriage, of a platen rotatably mounted thereon, means to support a ribbon on the carriage and normally hold it in printing position between superposed workpieces at the printing point, platen-rotating mechanism, and means connected to be actuated by said platen-rotating mechanism to shift the ribbon to free it from the binding action of the work-pieces so as to prevent said ribbon from being dragged with the Work-pieces when the platen is rotated to feed said work-pieces, while constantly maintaining the ribbon and work-pieces in assembled relation.

32. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of a platen rotatably moimted thereon, means to support a ribbon to release the lock concomitantly with the freeing of the ribbon.

33. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, and means for supporting a ribbon in printing posi-- tion between superposed work-pieces; of

means separate from the first-named means for laterally separating said work-pieces,- so as to free the ribbon from binding contact with the work-pieces and prevent it from being dragged thereby when the platen is rotated to feed said work-pieces, while constantly maintaining said ribbon and Said work-pieces in assembled relation.

34. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotatable platen, and means for supporting a ribbon in printing position between superposed work-pieces; of platen-rotating mechanism; and means connected to said platen-rotating mechanism to be actuated thereby, for laterally separating said work-pieces, so as to free the ribbon from binding contact with the work-pieces and prevent it from being dragged thereby when the platen is rotated to feed said workpieces, while constantly maintaining said ribbon and said workpieces in assembled relation.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI.

Witnesses;

F. E. ALEXANDER, Trros H. IRONS. 

